Dividing barrier for a game and means for controlling the same



April 23, 1935.

S. E. GORDON DIVIDING BARRIER FOR A GAME AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME Filed-Sept. 12, 1953 M/ uf/v TOQ JAMUE; GORDON A TTOE EV Patented Apr. 23, 1935 PATENT oFFIcE DIVIDING BARRIER FOR A GAME AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME Samuel E. Gordon, San Francisco, Calif. Application September 12, 1933, Serial No. 689,069

19 Claims. (01. 27329) 7 This invention relates to a tennis net, or other barrier and means for controlling the same.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a dividing barrier for a court for playing 5 a game such as a tennis net for a tennis court,

which is adapted to prevent the playing of the game, and which can be moved into playing position across the'court at will.

Particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism for moving a barrier'on a court, such as a tennis net, into operative position for a predetermined period of time, at the expiration of which the' barrier or tennis net is returned to inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism to bring a tennis net into playing position and to automatically return the same to inoperative position after a predetermined time of playing. 7

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coin controlled mechanism to bring a tennis net into playing position, and a timing mechanism adapted to cause the return of the net into inoperative position after a predetermined time of playing subsequent to the operation of the coin controlled mechanism.

In this specification and the annexed drawing, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and, it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

Ihe invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective View of a tennis court with a tennis net constructed and supported in accordance with my invention, 1

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a post for th tennis net and its connection to a reversible liftmechanism.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical coin control and timing control mechanism its connection to the post-actuated circuit or and to the reversible lifting means, and ure is a fragmental, sectional view of a pc or the tennis net connected to an. electrically controlled hydraulic lifting mechanism.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a barrier of the type suited for a game, for instance a tennis net 5 which extends across afield or court 3 which the game is played. The ends of the barrier or net 6 are supported on adjustable supports or posts 8. Imbedded in the ground below each post 8 is a mechanism 9 so connected to the post that it is able to raise and lower the part-of the post 8 to which the net 6 is attached thereby to raise and lower the net 9 intooperative and 5 inoperative, positions. For instance when the device is used in connection with tennis the net 6 can be raised so that it is not suitable for playing the game, but itcan be lowered into a playing position. In the event the net is used for playing so called volley ball the net 6 may be normally held in lowered position to prevent playing the game, but it can be raised and held in raised operative position for the game. If necessary the barrier in some cases may be made disappearing into a suitable recess in the ground and lifted out into playing position. The control mechanism for moving the barrier can be the same in all the above instances except the direction of its operation must be reverse to that shown in the herein embodiment. I

The mechanism 9 is electrically-controlled so that a coin control device I causes it to bring the barrier or net 6 into playing position, and a timing device l2 causes it to move'the barrier or net 6 into inoperative position. The coin control device and the timing device l2 actuate a circuit breaker mechanism l3, which latter is connected in series with another circuit breaker l4 actuated and tripped by the movement or adjustment of the post 8. I

Both posts 8 and mechanisms 9 are of the same construction therefore a description of one, each at one end of the net, will suffice. Each post 8 includes a hollow standard H5 in which is slidably held a hollow net support H. In the top of the net support H is secured a sleeve |8. Both the support I? and, the sleeve l8 are apertured at l9 and a line 2| extends from the top of the net 8 through said aperture and over a small pulley 22 inside the sleeve it? so as to be connected by a coil spring 23 to a suitable anchor pin 24 in said sleeve l8. Thus the net 8 is resiliently supported at its ends inside of the respective posts 8. Each standard H5 is fixed on a casing 26. which latter is securely imbedded in the ground.

Each control mechanism 9 includes a reversible electric motor 21 in the casing 26. A shaft 28 is journaled in a gear box 29 in said casing 26 and is suitably driven by the motor 21. A screw shaft 3| extends vertically from the gear box 29 upwardly into the standard IS. The lower end of the screw shaft 3| is journaled in the gear box 29 and has a shoulder32 thereon so arranged as to. prevent axial movement of the screw shaft 3|. 55

The upper end of said screw shaft 3| is threadedly engaged in the thick bottom 33 of the hollow support H. The support I1 is preferably of rectangular cross section so that it can not turn with the screw shaft 3|. A suitable worm transmission 34 in the gear box 29 transmits rotation of the shaft 28 to the screw shaft 3| in either direction. When the screw shaft 3| is rotated by the mechanism 9 the bottom 33 of the support l1 acts as a traveling nut and moves the support l1 axially upwardly and downwardly in the standard l6 according to the direction in which the reversible motor 21 rotates.

The electrical control mechanism for both motors 21 is contained in box 36. The various units of the control are mounted on a suitable partition wall 31 in said box 36, as shown, somewhat diagrammatically, in Figure 3. a

The main circuit breaker of the electrical control is the circuit breaker mechanism l3, which includes parallel contacts 38, 39, a resilient contact 4| between the contacts 38 and 89 adapted to alternately engage said contacts 38 and 39, and a shorter contact 42 above the resilient contact 4| and adapted to be engaged by the latter. All the said contacts 38, 39, 4| and 42 are held at adjacent ends thereof on an insulating block 43 on the wall 31. The free end of the resilient contact 4| terminates in a downwardly and then upwardly curved bow at 44 which rests in a curved notch 46 in the periphery of an actuating cam 41. The cam 41 is made of suitableinsulating ma terial. It is to be noted that when the bow 44 is nestled in the notch 46 then the resilient contact 4| engages the lower contact 39 which latter is connected by a wire 48 and through the circuit breaker I4, as hereinafter described, to each motor 21 so as to cause the same to turn the screw shaft 3| so as to raise the support I! and net 6 therewith upwardly into a non-playing position. On the other hand when the cam 41 is turned so that the bow 44 is raised to the normal periphery of the cam 41 then the resilient contact 4| engages both the contacts 38 and 42. The contact 38 is connected by a wire 49 and through said circuit breaker Hi, to another terminal of each motor 21 so that it reverses the rotation of said motor 21 and turns the screw shaft 3| in reverse direction to lower the sup port and the net 6. The contact 42 is connected into the circuit of the timing device l2 to close said circuit at all times when the bow 44 of the resilient contact 4| is out of the notch 46.

The cam 41 is secured on a shaft 5| to be rotated therewith. On the shaft 5| is fixed a ratchet 52 to be acted upon by the coin control mechanism i so as to tin-n the cam 41 and close a circuit through the resilient contact 4| and the upper contacts 38 and 42, thereby to start the motor 21 so as to cause the lowering of the support 1 and the net 6, and also to start the timing device l2. It is to be noted that the resilient contact 4| is connected to a line 53 or" an electric supply current.

' The coin control device l includes a coin chute 54 on the wall 31. The lower end of the chute 54 is covered by a lever 56 which latter is pivoted at one end thereof at 51. Outside the pivoted end of the lever 56 are the free ends of a pair of vertical contacts 58 and 59 which are mounted on an insulator 6| at their upper ends. The contacts 58 and 59 are resilient so as to be normally spaced apart. The end of the contact 58 has a bent extension 62 thereon engageable by an extension 63 on the pivoted end of the lever 56 when the strips are spaced, fixed contacts 89 and 9|.

lever 56 is swung downwardly. The contact 59 is suitably connected by means of a wire 64 to aline 53' of said electric supply current, and the contact 59 is connected by a wire 66 to a solenoid 61 which latter is then suitably connected by a wire 68 to the other line 53 of the said electric circuit. A core 69 in the solenoid 61 has a head 1| on its upper end adapted to engage and turn the ratchet 52. The core 69 normally drops downwardly by gravity and its head 1| rests on the top of the solenoid 61. However when a coin of suitable weight is dropped through chute 54 it swings the lever 56 downwardly, momentarily, just long enough to allow the escape of the coin from the chute 54. But the momentary swinging of the lever 56 causes the extension 63 to engage the contact extension 62 and force the contact 58 into engagement with the contact 59, thereby closing the circuit through the solenoid 61 and momentarily magnetizing the same. As the solenoid 61 is magnetized the core 69 is drawn upwardly so as to cause the head 1| to turn the ratchet 52. Then the lever 56 swings back to its position opening the solenoid circuit until another coin is dropped into the chute 54. As soon as the ratchet 52 is turned, in a contra clockwise direction viewing Figure 3, the bow 44 is forced out of the notch 46 to the periphery of the cam 41 closing the circuit through the contact 4| and contacts 38 and 42. In this manner every time a coin is dropped through the chute 54 motors 21 are operated to bring the support l1 and the net 6 down to playing position and the circuit of the timing device I2 is also closed through the contact 42 to operate said timing device l2.

The timing device I2 includes a synchronous motor 12, such as the so called Telechron motor. The motor 12 is connected by a wire 13 to the contact 42, and by another wire 14 to the line 53. Thus when the resilient contact 4| is held in engagement with the contact 42 an electric circuit is formed through line 53, contacts 4| and 42, wire 13, through the motor 12, and wire 14 to line 53', causing the motor 12 to rotate a shaft 16 in contra clockwise direction viewing Figure 3. The shaft 16 is connected by suitable reduction gears 11 and 18 to the shaft 5| so as to drive the shaft 5| in a clockwise direction, viewing Figure 3, whenever the contacts 4| and 42 are held in engagement with each other by the cam 41. As soon as the cam 41 is rotated far enough to bring the notch 46 opposite to the bow 44 the contact 4| is disengaged from the contact 42 and the circuit through the motor 12 is broken stopping the same.

The tripping switch or circuit breaker I4 is arranged in series with the motors 21 and with the circuit breaker I3 so as to control the circuits of the respective motors 21 in accordance with the position of the supports l1. A plate 19 is slidably held on pins 8|, on a side of the standard I6. The pins 8| extend through elongated guide slots 82v Along the longitudinal center line of the plate 19 extends a long slot 33 in which is slidable a tripping arm 84, which latter is extended from the support l1 adjacent the bottom of said support H, and through a slot 86 in the side of the standard Hi.

The plate 19 is made of insulating material. On the lower end of the plate 19 are spaced conducting strips 81 and 88, and opposite to said On the upper end of the plate 19 are spaced conductand ell-of each motor 27.

At the upper end of the plate 19 the strip 92 is connected by the wire 49 to the-upper contact '33 of the circuitbreaker l3, and the other strip 93 is connected by a wire [ill to the line 53". The upper fixed contacts 94 and 95 are connected by suitable wires respectively to the terminals 9'! and 33 of each motor 21.. The entire switch i4 is suitably inclosed in a housing H32 on the side of the "standard I 3.

By the cooperation of the switch l4 and the circuit breaker IS the direction of the rotation of the motors 2i, and their operation at the right time for moving the support I? simultaneously is accomplished. Th diagram in Figure '3 shows the electriccircuit and controls in a position when the net 5 is in playing position but the predetermined time for playing expired. The cam t? reached the position where the how 44 nests in the notch 46 and the resilient contact M is in engagement with the lower contact 39. The net t in this lower position pushed the plate T9 downwardly so that the strips 81 and 88 are in engagement with the respective contacts 89 and Qi. Hence the electric circuit is closed from the line 53 through the contacts 45 and 39, and wire 38 then through the strip 88 and contact 95 to the terminal 98 of each motor 2?, then out through the other terminal 9? of the motor 21 and through the contact 89, strip Bi, and wire 99 to line 53. When the above circuit is formed the motors 21 are so rotated as to cause the supports H to be raised by the screw shafts 35. As

the supports I? move upwardly raising the net 6 into non-playing position, each tripping arm 84 travels with its respective support I? and slides in the adjacent slot 83. By the time the supports I! reach theiruppermost positions the arms 84 also reach the upper ends of the respective slots 83 and push the respective plates 19 upwardly. Thus the lower strips 8? and 33 'are disengaged from the, lower contacts 89 and 9| and the upper strips 92 and 83 are engaged with the upper contacts 96 and 95 at the end of the upward stroke of the supports ll. Conse quently the electric circuit of the motors 2'? is broken at the lower ends of the plates "59 and the motors 21 are stopped. Inasmuch as the contact M is separated from the contact .2 the syn chronous motor '72 is also inoperative. Thus the supports l1 and the net 6 are held in non-playing position.

The engagement of the upper strips 22 and t3 with the respective contacts 24 and 95 keeps the circuit ready for reverse rotation of the motor 27 as soon as the resilient contact 4! of the circuit breaker I3 is again engaged with theupper contact 38. In order to. move the net 6 into playing position a coin of the desired denomination is inserted in the chute 54 to energize the solenoid 61, as heretofore described, thereby to cause the one stroke of the core 59 turning the ratchet 52, shaft 5| and cam 47 in a contra clockwise di- Iinlet i is connected thereto.

rection, viewing Figure Thusv the resilient contact 4! is raised by the cam ll to engage the contacts 38 and 42. One of the electric circuits thus. created is formed from line fit'through con tacts 4i: and 38, line 49', strip 32,. fixed contact 94 to the terminal 91 of each motor 21, and from the other terminal 98 through fixed contact 96, strip 93 and wire [EH to line 53'. This is a reversed flow of electricity, compared with the first described circuit, and it causes the motors 21 to rotate oppositely to the first mentioned direction, thereby rotating the screw shafts 3| also in reverse to lower the respective supports IT and the net 5 into playing position. At the end of the lower stroke of the supports H the plate 79 is Shifted downwardly and is ready to operate the motors 2? to again lift the supports I! as soon as the earn 4! is turned far enough to bring the notch 45 into registry with the bow 44 of the resilient contact ll. Until such time the circuit of the synchronous motor 72 remains closed so as to cause the slow rotationof the cam 4'! in a clockwise direction, viewing Figure 3, asheretofore described. The number of suitable coins successively inserted into the chute 5i! predeter mines the distance of travel of the cam l? before the supports H are raised.

The modified embodiment of my device shown in Figure 4 includes a cylinder i 53 in which works a double action piston H94. A rod H36 connects the piston HM to the bottom of a support I! to raise and lower the same as the piston Ice is reciprocated. The cylinder H 3 has a port it at its upper end and another port H38 at its lower end. The ports i6? and we are connected by conduits N28 to a suitable four way valve Hi, which'valve Hi also has a bypass H2 and an The inlet H3 conducts fluid under pressure to the valve 2 l. The valve l i i is of the usual rotary type and its shaft H4 has a gear H6 fixed thereon which latter is engaged'by the teeth of a rack i H. The opposite ends of the rack H7 are'forined into cores i H? and H9 moving respectively in solenoids Hi and I22. When the upper solenoid i2! is energized the upper core I I8 is drawn thereinto moving the rack Ill upwardly to-turn the gear H5 in a contra clockwise direction, viewing Figure 4-. The stroke of the rack it? is so adjusted that it causes a 90 turn of the gear i iii and of the shaft i M and the valve ii is so formed that a Q? turn in said contra clockwise direction connects the inlet l it to the upper conduit H29 and to the port I01, and connects the lower port Hi8 and lower conduit M9 to the bypass H2. 'Thus fluid under pressure is admitted above the piston i 1 and the fluid from below the piston Hid is bypassed causing the piston its to move downwardly l awering the support El and the net 6. A 90 turn of the gear H6 in clockwise direction viewing Fi ure 4, reverses the above connections so that fluid under pressure is admitted below the piston Hi5 and bypassed from above said piston thereby raising the piston its and the support IT.

The solenoids Ni. and I22 are controlled by .the aforedescribed electric controls except that only one strip is used at each end of the plate l9.

Namely the lower fixed contact 89 is not used,

lower solenoid I22, and the wire I0! is directly connected to the other terminal of the lower solenoid I22. In this manner the operation of the solenoids l2| and I22 for controlling the valve Hi and the piston I04 is electrically controlled by the same coin controlled device ll, timing device 12, circuit breaker l3 and tripping switch l4 heretofore described in connection with the motors 27.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a net used on a court for playing a game, of supporting elements for the net, means to move and hold the net in inoperative and operative positions respectivelyto prevent and allow the playing of the game, a coin controlled mechanism to actuate said means to render the net operative, and a timing mechanism to actuate said means to render the net inoperative.

2. The combination with a dividing barrier on a tennis court, of supporting elements for the barrier, means related to said elements to raise and lower said barrier at will, a coin controlled mechanism to actuate said means in one direction, to render the barrier operative, and a timing mechanism to actuate said means in the other direction thereby to render the barrier inoperative after a predetermined period.

3. The combination with a net on a court for playing a game of supporting elements for the net, means to alter the position of said supporting elements to hold the net in operative and in inoperative positions, a coin controlled mechanism to actuate said means for moving the supporting elements so as to hold the net in operative position, and a timing mechanism adapted to actuate said means after a predetermined period subsequently to the operation of the coin controlled mechanism to return the supporting elements and the net to inoperative position.

'4. The combination with a net on a court for playing a game, and supporting elements for the net, of a reversible mechanism to move the supporting elements into operative and inoperative positions so as to render the net respectively operative and inoperative relatively to said court, and means to alternately actuate said mechanism in opposite directions. 7

5. The combination with a net on a court for playing a game, and supporting elements for the net, of a reversible mechanism to move the supporting elements into operative and inoperative positions so as to render the net respectively operative and inoperative relative to said court, means to alternately actuate said mechanism in opposite directions, and said actuating means including a coin controlled mechanism to actuate the reversible mechanism to render the net operative, and a timing mechanism to actuate the reversible mechanism after a predetermined period subsequent to the first actuation to render the net inoperative.

6. The combination with a dividing barrier on a court for playing a game and supportingelements for the barrier of a reversible electric motor, for each of said elements, means to connect each motor to the respective element to cause the motors to move the respective elements into operative and inoperative positions thereby to hold the barrier respectively in playing and in out of playing positions, as the motors are rotated in opposite directions.

'7. The combination with a dividing barrier on a court for playing a game and suporting elements for the barrier of a reversible electric motor, for each of said elements, means to connect each motor to the respective element to cause the motors to move the respective elements into operative and inoperative positions thereby to hold the barrier respectively in playing and in out of playing positions, as the motors are rotated in opposite directions, a coin actuated mechanism to cause the motors to rotate in one direction to move the supporting elements and the barrier into playing position, and timing mechanism adapted to cause the motors to rotate in the opposite direction after a predetermined time subsequent to the first operation.

8. The combination with a barrier on a court for playing a game and supporting elements for said barrier, of hydraulic means to move said supporting elements and said barrier into operative and inoperative position, and means to alternately actuate said hydraulic means.

9. The combination with a barrier on a court for playing a game and supporting elements for said barrier, of hydraulic means to move said supporting elements and said barrier into operative and inoperative position, means to alternately actuate said hydraulic means, said actuating means including a coin controlled mechanism for actuation-to cause the moving of the barrier into operative position, and a timing mechanism adapted to actuate said hydraulic means in the opposite direction.

10. The combination with a dividing barrier on a tennis court, and reversible means to raise and lower said barrier, of an electrical controlling mechanism to operate said reversible means in opposite directions, comprising a circuit breaker mechanism operated in conjunction with the movement of the barrier to connect an electric circuit in one direction through said reversible means throughout the entire movement of the barrier in one direction and to connect the electric circuit in a reverse direction upon the completion of said movement and throughout the entire movement of the barrier in the reverse diection, a timing mechanism being operative when the barrier is in playing position, another circuit breaker mechanism connected in series with the first circuit breaker and said controlling mechanism, and means actuated by the timing mechanism to normally close the circuit of the second circuit breaker into said reverse direction, and to close the circuit of the second circuit breaker in the other direction when the timing mechanism is operated.

11. The combination with a dividing barrier on a tennis court, and reversible means to raise and lower said barrier, of an electrical controlling mechanism to operate said reversible means in opposite directions, comprising a circuit breaker mechanism operated in conjunction with the movement of the barrier to connect an electric circuit in one direction through said reversible means throughout the entire movement of the barrier in one direction and to connect the electric circuit in a reverse direction upon the completion of said movement and throughout the entire movement of the barrier in the reverse direction, a timing mechanism being operative when the barrier is in playing position, another circuit breaker mechanism connected in series with the first circuit breaker and said controlling mechanism, and means actuated by the timing mechanism to normally close the circuit of the second circuit breaker into said reverse direction, and to close the circuit of the second circuit breaker in the other direction when the timing mechanism is operated, and a circuit breaker to render the said timing 'mechanism active for a predetermined period being adapted to be operated by a coin deposited in a part of said control mechanism.

12. An automatic net support for tennis courts comprising, in combination with the posts on which the net is secured, a support for each post, means to adjustably hold the posts on the re spective supports, and automatic means to raise and lower the posts on their respective supports so as to carry the net into inoperative and operative positions.

13. An automatic net support for tennis courts comprising, in combination with the posts on which the net is secured, a support for each post, means to adjustably'hold the posts on the respective supports, and automatic means to raise and lower the posts on their respective supports so as to carry the not into inoperative and operative positions, and means to render the post raising means inoperative for a predetermined period.

14. An automatic net support for tennis courts comprising, in combination with the posts on which the net is secured, a support for each post, means to adjustably hold the posts on the respective supports, and automatic means to raise and lower the posts on their respective supports so as to carry the net into inoperative and operative positions, and a control mechanism for said automatic means being adapted to be rendered operative by the depositing of a coin in a part of said mechanism.

15. An automatic net support for tennis courts comprising, in combination with the posts on which the net is secured, a support for each post, means to adjustably hold the posts on the respective supports, and automatic means to raise and lower the posts on their respective supports so as to carry the net into inoperative and operative positions, means to render the post raising means inoperative for a predetermined period,

and a control mechanism for said automatic means and for said second means being adapted to be rendered operative by the depositing of a coin into a part of the mechanism when the posts are raised.

16. An automatic net support for a tennis court comprising post supporting elements, posts adjustably held in the respective supporting elements, said net being secured to said posts, and a motor-actuated mechanism for shifting the posts into operative and inoperative positions.

17. An automatic net support for a tennis court comprising, post supporting elements, posts adjustably held in the respective supporting elements, said net being secured to said posts, and a motor-actuated mechanism for shifting the posts into operative and inoperative positions, and a control mechanism to hold'the posts and the net in operative position for a predetermined period.

18. An automatic net support for a tennis court comprising, post supporting elements, posts adjustably held in the respective supporting elements, said net being secured to said posts, and hydraulically actuated mechanism for shifting the posts to move the net into operative and inoperative positions relatively to the tennis court.

19. An automatic net support for a tennis court comprising, post supporting elements, posts adjustahly held in the respective supporting elements, said net being secured to said posts, and hydraulically actuated mechanism for shifting the posts to move the net into operative and inoperative positions relatively to the tennis court, and a control mechanism for said hydraulically actuated mechanism to hold the same fixed in a position corresponding tothe operative position of the net for a predetermined period.

SAMUEL E. GORDON. 

